Rob Griffiths on a shocking display by the Dragons as they allow two-goal advantage to slip against part timers at Wembley

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From ecstasy to agony, and back again, Wrexham suffered the embarrassment of an FA Trophy final defeat to a lower league side on a day and indeed season best consigned to the history books and forgotten.

Wrexham were ahead and cruising, Louis Moult and Jay Harris seeing the Vanarama Conference side into a 2-0 lead on the hour mark,

before North Ferriby United launched a stunning fightback to steal the silverware.

United skipper Liam King hammered home from the spot after Andy Coughlin had felled Danny Clarke in the box, before Ryan Kenda guided home the excellent Jason St Juste’s cross before the end to send the game into extra time.

It was no more than the Vanarama North side deserved as they dominated the second half, before Kenda headed home a second in the first period of extra time.

Boos rang out from the Wrexham end, but they were given something to cheer three minutes from the end as Moult added his second of the game to send it into penalties.

But while Wes York, Andy Bishop, Moult and Blaine Hudson all found the back of the net, misses from Connor Jennings, Neil Ashton and Steve Tomassen saw United claim the trophy.

Talking points

Simply not good enough

It was in the bag and they blew it, that is the only way to sum up Sunday’s FA Trophy final.

This was the perfect way to cap off their 150th anniversary season with a piece of silverware, but the boos that rang out at the final whistle simply sum up what has been a campaign to forget for everyone.

That they got it back to a penalty shoot-out is down to their never say die attitude, but it was not good enough, and Wrexham will know that.

Inability to kill sides off rears its head again

It has been their Achilles heel all season, Wrexham have lacked that killed instinct to kill sides off and close games out.

It was a game of few chances, and North Ferriby were more than good value to take the tie into an extra 30 minutes, but it should never have come to that.

The Dragons were 2-0 up and in control, but rather than go for the jugular and kill the game off, they gave United the chance to hit back from the spot and then equalise with a well worked effort from Ryan Kenda.

It has been this facet lacking from their pay all season that has seen them confined to mid-table obscurity.

Dealing with Jason St Juste

The official man of the match, St Juste was excellent in the second half, given time and space on the left hand side to terrorise Steve Tomassen.

The young right-back tried his best to nullify his threat, but was found wanting on a couple of occasions.

When the sides lined up it seemed dealing with the threat of giant forward Tom Denton was going to be the biggest weapon - literally as he stands at 6ft 7ins - but it was the pace of St Juste that gave the East Riding side their way back into the game.

Goals

Wrexham 1-0 North Ferriby United, Louis Moult, 11 minutes. Wrexham’s first real attack of the game of any real note and they find the back of the net. Connor Jennings and Joe Clarke linked up together twice for the later to play a perfectly weighted low cross in the middle for Louis Moult to sweep home via the hand of United goalkeeper Adam Nicklin.

Wrexham 2-0 North Ferriby United, Jay Harris, 59 minutes. Jay Harris returned to the field of play in the perfect moment to get on the end of a flowing move involving Neil Ashton, Connor Jennings, Dean Keates and Louis Moult to set Harris free to slot home.

Wrexham 2-1 North Ferriby United, Liam King, 75 minutes. Andy Coughlin is beaten to the ball by Danny Clarke and brings down the United winger to give away a penalty, and earn a yellow card. And from the resulting spot kick United skipper Liam King into the roof of the net.

Wrexham 2-2 North Ferriby United, Ryan Kenda, 86 minutes. Great work from Jason St Juste, who had been a threat on the right wing all game, gets the better of Manny Smith and an unmarked Ryan Kenda guides his cross beyond Andy Coughlin.

Wrexham 2-3 North Ferriby United, Ryan Kenda, 101 minutes. It wasn’t the best of connections, but it was good enough to find the far corner beyond Andy Coughlin, as the replacement got on the end of Jason St Juste’s deflected cross.

Wrexham 3-3 North Ferriby United, Louis Moult, 117 minutes. Louis Moult with a thunderbolt to at least save the Dragons blushes and send the final into a penalty shoot-out. The ball was kept in the danger zone by the Dragons and Andy Bishop’s effort was blocked it fell kindly to Moult to rifle home.

Penalty shoot-out

Wrexham 0-1 North Ferriby, Liam King, scores.

Wrexham 1-1 North Ferriby, Wes York, scores.

Wrexham 1-2 North Ferriby, Nathan Jarman, scores.

Wrexham 2-2 North Ferriby, Andy Bishop, scores.

Wrexham 2-3 North Ferriby, Ryan Kenda, scores.

Wrexham 2-3 North Ferriby, Connor Jennings, missed.

Wrexham 2-3 North Ferriby, Jason St Juste, missed.

Wrexham 2-3 North Ferriby, Neil Ashton, missed.

Wrexham 2-3 North Ferriby, Tom Denton, missed.

Wrexham 3-3 North Ferriby, Louis Moult, scores.

Wrexham 3-4 North Ferriby, Matt Wilson, scores.

Wrexham 4-4 North Ferriby, Blaine Hudson, scores.

Wrexham 4-5 North Ferriby, Nathan Peat, scores.

Wrexham 4-5 North Ferriby, Steve Tomassen, missed.

Key moment

The penalty. It was a clear penalty, and it came at the perfect moment for North Ferriby and gave them the momentum to kick on and send the game into extra time.

Man of the Match

Louis Moult - Was asked to plough a lone furrow up front and worked his socks off for the cause. Scored two very good goals, and his penalty, and was unlucky to finish on the losing side.

Referee watch

Michael Oliver. It has to be said - and this is not sour grapes - but the official did allow North Ferriby a few more liberties than the Dragons, but nothing which resulted in their claiming the win.

Atmosphere

From ecstasy to agony to ecstasy again. Wrexham were ahead, they were cruising and well in control, and the fans were playing their part, enjoying the party atmosphere. That was to change very quickly though and there were even boos at the end of the 90 minutes, and 120 minutes after Louis Moult’s late heroics.

Verdict

Shocking, it was in the bag and then they switched off and suffered the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat.